UFC on FOX 9 takes place Dec. 14 at Sleep Train Arena in Sacramento, Calif. The main card, including a recently announced headliner between lightweight champion Anthony Pettis and Josh Thomson, airs on FOX following prelims on FOX Sports 1 and Facebook.

If victorious, this could be Mendes’ final bout before a second shot at the title. Since a loss to reigning champion Jose Aldo in 2012, the former NCAA Division I All-American wrestler has posted four consecutive knockout wins, the most recent coming against Darren Elkins and Clay Guida. The Aldo defeat, which came via first-round TKO (after a questionable cage-grab), remains the only loss of his career.

Lentz, who was scheduled to fight Dennis Bermudez at UFC Fight Night 31, instead will get a fight with much bigger stakes. Since a move down to featherweight, the former NCAA Division I wrestler is undefeated with wins over Eiji Mitsuoka, Diego Nunes and Hacran Dias. A victory over Mendes would be his highest-profile to date.

From Our Partners

The Latest

As the UFC 189 tour made its last stop in Dublin, featherweight champ Jose Aldo was met with a torrent of abuse from the Irish fans. It might have been unpleasant, but it might also have been just what he needed.